Multi-elastic belt and its manufacturing method

ABSTRACT

The knitted belt ( 1 ) according to the invention comprises regions ( 4 - 8 ) having a different elasticity over the circumference thereof, wherein some of the regions ( 5, 6 ) corresponding to relatively hollow regions ( 13, 11 ) of a user&#39;s waist have a maximum level of local elasticity, in particular in a central back region ( 6 ) and two lateral front regions ( 5 ) corresponding respectively to the spine and to the tendons linking the wearer&#39;s rectus abdominis with the external oblique muscles.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns an independent belt (for example a sheath-like independent abdominal belt) or more particularly a garment belt or an underwear belt, namely a belt integrated to a clothing item. More specifically, the invention concerns belts that are knitted, in particular by a knitting method called “seamless” knitting method, on a circular knitting machine or a flat knitting machine.

BACKGROUND

The belts that are nowadays available on the market have a uniform elasticity in the longitudinal direction (circumference) of the belt. There are belts called “multi-stage” belts which have, in their height direction, two and even more different elasticities. However, these belts are not specifically adapted to the morphology of the human body which thus results in inconvenience and discomfort for the wearer.

Nevertheless, document EP 1031292 has disclosed a belt having, in the circumferential direction, areas of different elasticities, in practice, an elasticity which is lower on the sides than on the front or on the back of the belt, this difference of elasticity being obtained by introducing yarns that are more or less elastic in the knitted fabric constituting the belt. Although this suggestion contributes to improving comfort for the wearer, it proved to be insufficient.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The aim of the invention is to make better use of the morphology of the wearer so as to manufacture a better adapted belt.

The aim of the invention is achieved according to the invention by a method according to which we firstly determine on the wearer's waist, relatively hollow areas compared to relatively solid areas and in that we construct the belt by providing, at these hollow areas, an area of the belt which has a local maximum of elasticity.

In practice, we observed that the hollow areas are mainly located, on the one hand, at the back, along the vertebral column and, on the other hand, on the front sides, at the tendons joining between the rectus abdominis muscles and the left and right external oblique muscles. Hence, it is in these three areas that we place advantageously the most elastic areas. In contrast, elsewhere than these areas, the elasticity is advantageously reduced. This construction ensures an optimal and suitable holding and a sensation of comfort.

The invention may be applied to a belt that is woven or knitted into different pieces of different elasticities which are sewed to each other, however, the invention aims more particularly a belt that is woven or knitted into one single piece, in which we provide an elasticity that is differentiated by areas by a special method during the very manufacturing of the belt or subsequently.

According to the invention, this unitary belt may be provided with an elasticity that is differentiated by areas according to either one of the following methods:

-   -   we proceed to a knitting of the belt, in particular a jersey         knitting, by varying the structure of the stitch and/or the type         of the used yarns depending on the desired areas.     -   we proceed to an apertured knitting of the belt, by varying the         size of the apertures, depending on the areas (the larger the         aperture is, the lesser the elasticity will be).     -   we knit the belt with, partly, an elastane yarn giving the         knitted fabric its elasticity and we proceed to a burn-out of         the elastane yarn of the belt depending on the areas, that is to         say, we selectively eliminate the elastane yarn in the chosen         areas.     -   We proceed, at the surface of the knitted fabric, to a         differentiated printing of resin-type, silicone-type polymers,         depending on the areas. Advantageously, we print similar         patterns along the belt, but with a tighter printing, or with         thicker or larger lines, in the areas that require a greater         elasticity. These patterns may advantageously consist of         letters, in particular letters which, as is common, remind or         indicate the brand of the garment.

The invention also relates to a belt obtained by the method of the invention. Thus, this belt, intended for a wearer or to a type of wearers, includes areas of different elasticities along its circumference, some areas having a local maximum of elasticity, said areas with local maximum of elasticity corresponding to relatively hollow areas of the waist of the wearer(s) for whom the belt is intended.

In practice, said areas with local maximum of elasticity may comprise at least one central back area and two lateral front areas respectively corresponding, on the one hand, to the vertebral column and, on the other hand, to the tendons joining between the rectus abdominis muscles and the external oblique muscles of a wearer. The width of these areas is relatively small.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description. Reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 schematically represents in perspective a belt with areas of different elasticity in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 schematically represents in section at the abdomen, a wearer surrounded by his belt, in accordance with the invention (the belt is schematically represented distant from the wearer's waist, but we understand that it is actually adjacent thereto).

FIG. 3 represents a variant of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 represents in a same figure different printing patterns allowing differentiating the elasticity by areas according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The belt 1 is in the form of a knitted tube section. It may consist of an independent knitted belt or, the most often, of the upper portion of a garment or an underwear (for example briefs or boxer briefs), not represented: indeed, it is known to make by knitting, belts with lapels (for example with plate hooking) at the top of the panties, pantyhoses, briefs, boxer briefs, etc. The represented belt 1 includes a front 2 and a back 3 which constitute one single piece. The front 2 includes a central abdomen area 4 surrounded by two lateral abdomen areas 5. The back 3 includes a central back area 6 surrounded by two lateral back areas 7. Lateral areas 8 form the sides, joining together the lateral abdomen areas 5 and the lateral back areas 7.

FIG. 2 represents the same belt 1 around the body of a wearer 10, in section at the waist. The waist presents, at the passage of the vertebral column of the wearer, a hollow area 11 which may or may not be surrounded itself by two other hollow areas 12 (they have been represented in FIG. 2 but not in FIG. 3). Moreover, the wearer comprises at the front, between the rectus abdominis muscles (in the front central portion) and the external oblique muscles of the abdomen (progressing toward the sides) two hollow tendon areas 13. According to the invention, the belt 1 comprises, in correspondence with the hollow areas 11 and 13, areas 6 and 5 with reinforced elasticity (+++ or ++) and on the contrary, in the remaining solid areas, areas 8 and 4 with reduced elasticity (+). The areas 6 and the areas 5 are areas with local maximum of elasticity. It is possible to have, for the areas 7 corresponding to the areas 12, a reinforced elasticity (++), but which, giving its contiguity to the area 6 (+++), is a local maximum of elasticity only on one side.

In FIG. 3, because of the absence of hollow areas 12 or because these are not considered, the belt 1 does not have an intermediate area 7.

Since the hollow areas are not very large, the corresponding areas 6 or 5 are not very large either, however, they are large enough to provide the wearer with the desired comfort, by allowing to have a strong elasticity in areas where contact with the skin of the wearer is lesser, because of the hollows.

The areas of differentiated elasticity may have marked differences from one area to another or, on the contrary, they may have a continuous transition.

Among the different ways for obtaining this differentiated elasticity, we proceed advantageously to a superficial printing of an elastomer, such as a resin or a silicone, providing the elasticity. This printing is advantageously performed according to patterns the density of which increases in the areas that should be more elastic. FIG. 4 represents examples A, B, C, D, E, F of patterns developed along the belt and showing a density that varies according to the areas so as to obtain areas with +, ++ or +++ elasticity. The patterns may be purely geometrical, such as for example the patterns E or F, where the thickness of the pattern and/or the width of the deposited line increases in the areas with a reinforced elasticity. They may advantageously take the form of letters, reproducing advantageously a brand of the garment, as represented in the patterns A, B or C where the letters DIM are repeated with more or less spacing in order to modify the elasticity. These letters may be combined with a secondary pattern, such as lines that are visible in the patterns A, B or C, or a main pattern like the honeycomb of the pattern D. The printing is performed advantageously by screen printing, or by transfer deposit.

In this manner, we obtain a marked and aesthetic belt the marking of which contributes to comfort by defining areas with differentiated elasticities according to an anatomical principle. 

1. A method for constructing a belt with areas of differentiated elasticity along its circumference, comprising: determining on a wearer's waist, relatively hollow areas compared to relatively solid areas and constructing the belt by providing, at these hollow areas, an area of the belt having a local maximum of elasticity.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hollow areas are mainly located at a back, along a vertebral column, and at tendons joining between rectus abdominis muscles and external oblique muscles of a wearer.
 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, in order to provide an elasticity that is differentiated by areas, knitting of the belt by varying the structure of the stitch and/or the type of the used yarns depending on the areas.
 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, in order to provide an elasticity that is differentiated by areas, apertured knitting of the belt, by varying the size of the apertures, depending on the areas.
 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, in order to provide an elasticity that is differentiated by areas, burning-out of an elastane yarn of the belt depending on the areas.
 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, in order to provide an elasticity that is differentiated by areas, differentiated printing of resin-type, silicone-type polymers, depending on the areas.
 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising printing similar patterns along the belt, but with a tighter printing in the areas that require a greater elasticity.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the patterns consist of letters.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the belt is knitted at the same time as a garment or an underwear.
 10. A belt intended for a wearer, comprising: areas of different elasticities along a circumference, some areas having a local maximum of elasticity, wherein said areas with local maximum of elasticity correspond to relatively hollow areas of the waist of a wearer.
 11. The belt according to claim 9, wherein said areas with local maximum of elasticity comprise at least one central back area and two lateral front areas respectively corresponding, on the one hand, to vertebral column and, on the other hand, to tendons joining between rectus abdominis muscles and external oblique muscles of a wearer. 